News Items

ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, Revision 10), the international standard for the definition of medical conditions, takes effect on Thursday, October 1. ICD-10 is a HIPAA code set requirement, so all services and discharges on or after that date must comply with the new codes. The new code set incorporates an expanded code format (three to seven digits), which will allow providers to include greater detail within the codes.

ASCRS encourages members to consult the following resources to prepare for this change:

• Crosswalk Between ICD-9 and ICD-10: Top Colon and Rectal Diagnosis Codes
• American Medical Association Implementation Tools and Tips
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid "Road to 10" Tools

Announcement Sent Jointly from the American Medical Association and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Sent July 2015

The American Medical Association and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) jointly announced that agreement has been reached on important elements of a "grace period" for the October 1, 2015, implementation of the ICD-10 diagnosis code set.

In guidance the CMS announced that:

· For a one year period starting October 1, Medicare claims will not be denied solely on the specificity of the ICD-10 diagnosis codes provided, as long as the physician submitted an ICD-10 code from an appropriate family of codes. In addition, Medicare claims will not be audited based on the specificity of the diagnosis codes as long as they are from the appropriate family of codes. This policy will be followed by Medicare Administrative Contractors and Recovery Audit Contractors.

· To avoid potential problems with mid-year coding changes in CMS quality programs (PQRS, VBM and MU) for the 2015 reporting year, physicians using the appropriate family of diagnosis codes will not be penalized if CMS experiences difficulties in accurately calculating quality scores (i.e., for PQRS, VBM, or Meaningful Use). CMS will continue to monitor implementation and adjust the duration if needed.

· CMS will establish an ICD-10 Ombudsman to help receive and triage physician and provider problems that need to be resolved during the transition.

· CMS will authorize advanced payments if Medicare contractors are unable to process claims within established time limits due to problems with ICD-10 implementation.

This announcement demonstrates that CMS is responsive to physician concerns. The AMA will monitor and keep CMS apprised of any implementation issues that persist in 2016, and will urge the agency to make any needed adjustments to the grace period policy and time line based on new information that surfaces during the implementation process. We encourage the Federation to report to us any problems their members experience during the transition, to better inform our advocacy efforts on their behalf.

The October 1 deadline for implementation of the ICD-10 code set is fast approaching, and time is running out for physician practices to complete their preparation. The AMA has a broad range of materials available on its website to help physicians prepare for the October 1 deadline. To learn more and stay apprised on developments, visit AMA Wire.

Eugene Philip Salvati, MD, FASCRS

We are sad to report the passing of a long-time friend and ASCRS Fellow, Dr. Eugene Philip Salviti, who passed away on Dec. 8 at the age of 93. Dr. Salvati was an ASCRS Fellow since 1962, served as President of the organization from 1985-86 and regularly attended the Society's Annual Meetings. He will be greatly missed.

Dr. Salvati was born in Pursglove, WV in 1923. He attended the West Virginia School of Medicine and the University of Maryland and received his MD degree in 1947. He completed his internship at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield, NJ, and surgical residencies in Indiana at St. Vincent's Hospital, VA Hospital, and Indiana University Medical Center. He then completed his colon and rectal surgery training in 1956 at Allentown Hospital in Allentown, PA and quickly became certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Dr. Salvati practiced in New Jersey and served as the Program Director at UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson. He was preceded in death by his wife Laura who passed away in 2000.

A Remembrance for Eugene Salvati from Dr. Philip Gordon:

With the passing of Gene Salvati, so passes an entire era of colon and rectal surgery. His diminutive physical stature was never overshadowed by his booming, powerful, easily recognizable and unmistakable voice. His articulate comments at national meetings never went unnoticed. He leaves a legacy of countless fellows he trained, numerous scientific publications and major contributions to the Board and Society. We have lost a friend, a colleague and a master surgeon. I feel a particular deep sense of loss of a treasured friend because of our close personal relationship and feel indebted to him in many ways. His devout religious beliefs always acted as a guiding beacon in his life. At the Salvati Dinner and reception afterwards, he held court until late in the evening and indeed into the wee hours of the morning, where he outlasted surgeons many decades younger. He was a very special man with a heart of gold. He will truly be missed by all and the ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting will not be the same without him. RIP sweet Gene.

A Remembrance for Eugene Salvati from Dr. Gerald Marks:

May Eugene Salvati's soul Rest in Peace. Gene was a pioneering warrior, who helped to establish the position of colorectal surgery within the regional, national and international surgical communities with fierce determination. Anything less than his bold resolve in those transitional years through the 1950s and 1960s might well have led to a failure to define the discipline of colorectal surgery as we proudly know and enjoy the specialty today. We shall be forever grateful for his unique style of leadership, his protective commitment to education and his fundamental goodness. Gene, we love you and will remember you with fondness. You will live forever in the collective hearts of the colorectal surgical world.

A Remembrance for Eugene Salvati from Dr. Robert Fry:

With the passing of Eugene Salvati, our specialty has lost a guiding spirit. To recite his leadership activities in the Society, the Board and the specialty would almost trivialize the special place he held in the hearts of his pupils, colleagues and friends. Over the years, we could anticipate the glint in his eye, the boom of his voice, the warmth of his smile and the humor of his greeting that made each meeting special. The ravages of time caused him to attend the most recent formal meeting of the Board with the aid of a walker. That gathering provided a venue for his many friends to make informal pilgrimage to his table, to bask in the warmth of his fellowship and to marvel at the broken body of the surgeon that could not contain the magnificent spirit of the man. God has other plans for Gene now, but we were blessed to have him with us for a time.

A Remembrance for Eugene Salvati from Dr. Jan Rakinic:

So sorry to receive this news. Gene was a friend and mentor, to me as to so many others.

A Remembrance for Eugene Salvati from Dr. Michael Stamos:

His departure leaves a huge void in our Society. In particular, his late evening get-togethers and his constant presence and leadership at the business meeting or indelible memories of his impact.

A Remembrance for Eugene Salvati from Dr. Anthony Senagore:

One of the giants. He will be missed.

A Remembrance for Eugene Salvati from Dr. Patricia Roberts:

A giant in our field. We will miss his wisdom and sage counsel.

A Remembrance for Eugene Salvati from Dr. David Schoetz:

With all that can and will be said about Gene and his unparalleled career as a colon and rectal surgeon, many of us have been privileged to become part of his ‘non-medical’ life. His enjoyment of his family and friends knew no limits and his pride in all of them was extraordinary and exemplary; we should all genuinely enjoy life to the extent that he did. He has personally been the consummate friend and teacher (of fishing and life). We are all better for knowing him and can never forget him.

A Remembrance for Eugene Salvati from Dr. David Rothenberger:

Gene was such a genuine person who lived a full and happy life. It will seem strange not to hear his voice, enjoy a story or share a memory with him.

A Remembrance for Eugene Salvati from Dr. Bruce Orkin:

Truly a sad day. One of the giants (regardless of height). A friend, mentor and role model.

A Remembrance for Eugene Salvati from Dr. Julio Garcia-Aguilar:

Sad news. A giant in our field.

We are sad to report the passing of a long-time friend and ASCRS Fellow Dr. Leela Madhavareddy Prasad who passed away on Dec. 12 at the age of 72. Dr. Prasad was a member of the Society since 1982 and served as ASCRS Vice President from 2003-2004. He will be greatly missed.

Dr. Leela Madhavareddy Prasad was born on June 4, 1944, in Kondubhopalpalem, India. He attended Andhra Loyola College and Guntur Medical College, where he received his medical degree. He received his Masters in Surgery at Wellington Hospital in New Delhi and completed his general surgery residency and colorectal surgery fellowship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL. He practiced for over 35 years primarily at Cook County, the University of Illinois and Lutheran General Hospital and trained hundreds of surgeons worldwide and treated thousands of patients over that time. He was an early pioneer, scientist and innovator in colorectal and robotic surgery and developed many original contributions to the field which continue to be used today.

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons is saddened to report the passing of Dr. Victor W. Fazio. Dr. Victor Fazio died Monday, July 6, after a long illness at the age of 75. Dr. Fazio was an ASCRS Past President (1995-1996) and former Diseases of the Colon and Rectum Editor-in-Chief. He was awarded the Premier Physician Award from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation in 1992, inducted into the Cleveland Medical Hall of Fame in 2002, and received the Order of Australia in 2004.

In Memoriam

Victor W. Fazio, MD

(1940-2015)

During his first message to the ASCRS membership he said, "Each of us can promote and defend the Society’s position as a leader and ‘spokesman’ for the study and treatment of colonic and rectal disease. And do so with spirit and conviction that we can provide a high quality of care that is unusual-giving satisfaction to patients and pause to our generalist colleagues."

Victor Warren Fazio, MD is survived by his faithful, supportive and loving wife Carolyn, his son Victor W. III, his daughter Jane K. (Jeffrey) Powell and his son David J. (Tami). He is the beloved grandfather of James and Halle Powell, Griffin, Hunter, Talon and Kisandra Fazio. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 4:00 pm on Monday, July 13, 2015 at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 19000 Van Aken Blvd, Shaker Heights, OH.

Upon hearing of the death of Dr. Fazio, comments were received from the several members.

A Remembrance for Victor Warren Fazio from Drs. James Church and Ian Lavery:

Vic was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. He graduated in 1964 from the University of Sydney with a medical degree and entered surgical training at St Vincent’s Hospital. His burgeoning career was briefly set aside when he served a tour in Vietnam but in 1971 he left his native shores for Boston. Here, at the Lahey Clinic, he spent a year as a hepatobiliary fellow before making his career-defining move to Cleveland and a colorectal fellowship under Rupert Turnbull. The rest, as they say, is history.

Vic became Chairman of the Department of Colorectal Surgery at the age of 35 and over the subsequent 38 years he fostered the Department’s prominence already established by Drs. Turnbull and Weakley, building a unit that is second to none. Those who met him were instantly charmed by his personal charisma and magnetism. Those who worked with him were wowed by his vast clinical experience and expertise, his encyclopedic knowledge of all things colorectal, and an appetite for hard work that has seldom been equaled. He established an international reputation as a leader in his field, and throughout his career proved his dedication to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and its Journal.

On a personal level one could not hope for a better or a more convivial mate than Vic. He had an uncanny ability to put strangers at ease and make them feel included. As a Chairman, his door was always open, his loyalty was always dependable, and his leadership was ever by example. As a surgeon he was technically peerless, bold when boldness was called for and cautious when caution was needed. His outcomes stand as testimony to his skill and his patients’ fondness for their surgeon is what we all hope to engender. He leaves a legacy of well-trained colorectal surgeons that is multiplying exponentially, extending the quantity and improving the quality of life of thousands of patients around the world. Many of us are part of that legacy. We should be so blessed in the footprint we leave on this earth.

A Remembrance for Victor Warren Fazio from Jeff Milsom, MD:

Analogies won’t suit any description of the life of Dr. Victor Fazio, or "Vic", which is what he asked friends and colleagues to call him.

His bright spirit landed on earth in Australia in 1940, but the USA, first Boston then Cleveland, happily absorbed his human and surgical talents in the early 1970’s. History will recall his rapid ascension in the surgical world. It wouldn’t have mattered which profession he entered (some friends said he would have been at least "Cardinal" in the Catholic Church), he would have succeeded in it.

About the analogies, sports or other stars in their field (about whose performances many make reference to) would have been well advised to come visit Dr. Fazio at the Cleveland Clinic during his stellar career there, if they wished to really understand how to succeed in their craft. They would have learned about supreme talent, it’s honing and interweaving with compassion, selflessness, and amazing and tireless devotion to a cause (in his case caring for his patients).

In all of this, he shared a life with Carolyn, his wonderful wife who he always said was "smarter than I am".

There were no peers in Vic’s bright and all-too-short trajectory on earth. Those of us fortunate to have spent time with him must now carry his mission forward!

View Dr. Victor Fazio’s Presidential Address or view the Masters in Colorectal Surgery Lectureship which honored Dr. Fazio: Reoperative Abdominal Surgery - Lessons of a Lifetime by James Church MBCHB, FRACS.